Friday, March 5, 2010

It's Friday and what would Friday be without...

Yep it's spring the crocuses are croaking the bulbs blooming and the beavers are back.Nearly 60 degrees here today. They say the same thing for tomorrow then cooler weather next week.I had something that I was going to squeeze in here but forgot. Spent the day helping out a friend get resettled after he lost his job. He was just starting out lost his job then medical problems then lost everything. I see we're only bleeding 36,000 jobs last month.

No bank failures this week that's a good sign but I'm sure there will be more.Correction: There were five bank failures this week. They must wait until the markets close before listing them.

Your consistent logging of national stats regarding job loss and bank failures has been interesting. The other day the latest uneployment rates came out and gee I guess I should be thrilled . We are back into single digits nationally.

But I am not thrilled. National averages mean squat to me as I look at the local area and realize our 12% unemployment rate does nothing to reflect the actual out of work reality here in Maine. Maine has one of the highest self employed rates in the nation when compared to other states as a ratio. Unemployment stats do not include the self employed as the self employed, at least in Maine, cannot apply for benefits. I would imagine that if we could somehow track the number of self emplyed who have no work, the percentage would not be 12% but more likely 14% plus at the least.

Long way around to make a point, but any figures coming out of DC are meaningless to me. What is happening on the streets where I live and try to make a living are what matter.

Don't listen to Randal he'd have us all working as indentured servants. Oh that's right we are all slaves to DC and Wall Street.

Actually Crum the rate is closer to 16% on average. I think Michigan has you beat. There's was 13% the last time I looked. But it doesn't matter what you do or where you live we're all in the same sinking boat.

Blogs of the N.W.

the meter

Disclaimer

The articles, photos, videos and comments in this blog are for entertainment and opinion purposes only as per the fair use section of the copy right laws. All comments are those of the poster and not necessairly those of the author, e blogger, google, any individual, corporation or entity associated with the aformentioned. In reading and using this blog you hold the author blameless in the same manner as the e blogger and google terms of use agreement/s.